Valve-grinding machine.



F. L. THOMAS.

VALVE GRINDING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED'I'MN. 25. I911.

Patentd Dec. 11,1917.

HEETI.

84402 nto:

Th .TI-IEI MAE" F. L. THOMAS.

VALVE GRINDING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 25, 1911.

Patented Dec; 11, 1917.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

FLOYD L. THOMAS, or roman. IOWA.

VALVE-GRINDING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Dec. 11, 1917.

Application filed January 25, 1917. Serial No. 144,413.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FLOYD L. THOMAS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fonda, in the county of Pocahontas and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Valve-Grinding Machines; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in machines adapted for grinding the valves of various types of internal combustion engines, or other forms of valves.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a machine of this character having means whereby the valve may be intermittently rotated in opposite directions, the amount of movement in one direction being greater than that in the other.

An additional object is to provide a machine having cooperating friction drive wheels, the same being held in engagement with each other by means of a pair of spaced sliding hearings in which one of the shafts carrying one set of wheels is rotatably mounted.

Still another object is to provide a machine having means whereby power may be transmitted to the valve being operated upon, irrespective of the position of the engine in which the valve is located.

\Nith these and other objects in view, the invention resides in the novel features'of construction, combination and arrangement of parts which will be hereinafter more particularly described and claimed, and shown in the drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my invention showing the same in operation on a valve;

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through the upper part of the device;

Figs. 3 and 4 are detail vertical sections on the line 3-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken on a plane passing through the horizontal shaft 2;

Fig. 6 is a similar view taken on the plane at a point slightly above said shaft 2;

Fig. 7 is a detail vertical section through a portion of the semi-flexible shaft 25.; and

Figs. 8 and 9 are horizontal sections taken respectively on the planes of the lines 88 and 9-9 of Fig. 7.

In the accompanying drawings wherein similar reference characters designate like parts throughout the. several views, it will be noted that this improved machine is adapted to be mounted upon a suitable support, or in other words, is stationary, and the engine containing the valves to be operated upon is moved beneath the operating mechanism. Itv will also be seen in these drawings that the machine is so constructed that continuous rotary movement in onedirection generated by any preferred means, 1s transformed 1nto an lntermittent rotary movement, the dlrection of vmovement of which is alternately reversed so as to cause 1 the valve to be revolved first in one direction and then in the other. Such movement has been found to be best adapted for correctly seating a valve 50 that an absolutely gastight connection is made between the valve and seat. Experiment has also shown that if the valve is rotated a greater amount in one direction than in the other it may be more quickly and evenly seated. In carrying outthis latter movement my improved machine is adapted to cause the valve to rotate 180 in one direction and 90 in thereverse direction, so that in four operations or changes in the direction of movement, the valve will have made one complete 0 of spaced apart, preferably circular, plates 4 and 5, these plates being held rigidly in their spaced relation by means of a plurality of'tie rods 6. The opposite ends of these rods are threaded and provided with nuts 7 whereby the two plates may be disposed various distances apart. At diametrically opposite points in each of the plates are formed openings 8. those in the upper plate 4-. alining with those in. the lower plate 5.

These openings v8 areadapted to slidably receive-the opposite iend portions of a pair of rods 9.

The intermediate portions of these rods are enlarged as shown at IOto'pr-ovide'bearing openings for the reception of the horizontal shaft 2. The upper end'9 of each of therods 9 is threaded and provided with a nut 11, the latter'being in engagement with the outer face of the upper plate, thereby limiting the downward movement of the rods. An expansion helical spring sur- 1 rounds the portion'9 of each of the rods'9,

the opposite ends of thesesprings' bearing against the inner face .ofthe upper plate 4 and theenlairged portions 1:0 so as to continuously force the bearing downwardly for a purpose to be later described.

The s haftr2 which isrotatably mounted in the bearings formedimthe enlarged portions ltlhas one end extended beyond one of :the bearings and provided with fly wheel l/V -a round which a belt may :be' disposed in order totransmitpowerfrom a suitablesource to the machin or any=other preferred means may be provided for rotating said shaft. The intermediate portion of the shaft 2 between the-rods 9has-a sleeve 13fixed thereto, the opposite ends of this sleeve having an annular plate 14 preferably formed integrally therewith. These plates 14 form portions of a :pair ofdrive wheels 15, the other partsconsi'sting-of afiber disk 16 and a- -second annular plate 17. All threeof these parts 'ofe'ach-of the wheels :15 are bolted or otherwise secured rigidly together by fastening elements '18.

These wheelsln cooperate with anladditiona l disk-like drive wheel 19, the latter beinggfixed tothe upper end ofthe vertical shaftB. This'sha'ft i-s ro'tatably-mounted and supported in a sleevie :20 which is formed with the loiverplate I5. Theopposite ends of this slee' ve20 each contain a :ball race 21 in which bearing ballsl22 are disposed. The lower end of the sleeve 20 is iurther proadded with a grease cup 22' whereby the interior of the sleeve and the portion of the shaft 31inclosed therebymayfbeilubricated.

As hereinbefore mentioned it is advisable to cause the valve which is being I ground to rotate a greater amountdnione direction-than in the other, and in carrying out "this idea the -fibe'r disks :16 of the wheels '15 are provided with "contact surfaces 23 and 24 of different lengths. The contact surface '23 extends substantially half way around the periphery of the 'dis'k 16 and will cause the 'i'rhee'l 19 t'o revolvesubstantially 180, said the way around the disk 16 upon which it is formed. Thus it will be seen that when the shaft 2 is rotated the wheel 19 will be intermittently engaged by the wheels 15, the contact surface of first one and then the other being brought to bear on. the face of said wheel 19. When the contact surface 28 engages said wheel 19, the latter will be revolved approximately 180 in one direction, and then the surface 24: is brought into play and revolves said wheel in the reverse direction a distance of about 90. Repe'titionof this movement will cause the shaft 3 to move slowly in a direction similar to that move ment imparted to the wheel l5 containing the longer contact surface 23.

The above described movement of the shaft 3 is transmitted to the valve "V by means of the semiflexible shaft 25. This shaft 25 is connected to the lower end of the shaft 3 by the universal joint 26. Also, the shaft 25 is preferably extensible, it being formed of a pair of telescoping sections 27 and 28, the former having a preferably rectangular socket to receive the rectangular end of the portion 28 which slides therein. In order that the length of this shaft 25 may be varied and the parts held in their adjusted positions, the section 27 is equipped with a spring catch 29 of suitable formation for engagement with a collar 30 which is slidable upon the portion 28 and has a setscrew for holding it in adjusted positions. The lower end of the section 28 of the shaft 25 has the usual fingers for engagement with therecesses in the top of the valve, and a loose sleeve 31 adjacent this end provides a iandle for the person operating the tool. A pair of spaced apart collars 82 fixed one at each end of the sleeve 31 holds the handle in proper position. With such ashaft 25 it is not necessaryto position the valve which is to be ground directly beneath the vertical aXis of the shaft 8, therefore ajseries of valves in an engine may be ground without moving either the engine or the stationary portion of the machine.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be obvious thata v'erysimply constructed power valve grinding machine has been produced by which theusual movements transmitted to a valve when the same is being ground by hand, are generated and the valve ground much more quickly and easily. Various minor changes in the form and proportions of the various parts of the machine or the manner of mounting the same may be readily made without departing from or sacrificingany of-the principles of the invention, asoutlined 'inthe appended claims.

I'claim: 7

1. In a device of the class described, a. frame, ibearings 'yie'ldably supported by said frame, a drive shaft mounted in said bea-r ings, a driven shaft rotatably earned by said frame, and means for driving said driven shaft from the first mentioned shaft.

2. In a device of the class described, a frame, bearings yieldably supported by said frame, a drive shaft mounted in said bearings, drive wheels carried by said shaft, and a driven shaft rotatably carried by said frame and provided with a fiatfaced bearing surface on its upper end, said drive Wheels being adapted to yieldably and intermittently engage the bearing surface of the said driven shaft.

3. In a device of the class described, a frame, bearing rods slidably mounted in said frame, a shaft carried by said rods, drive wheels mounted on said shaft, a second shaft rotatably carried by said frame, and means carried by said bearing rods for yieldably holding one of said drive wheels in driving contact with said second shaft.

4. In a device of the class described, a frame, bearings slidably mounted in said frame, a drive shaft rotatably carried by said bearings, drive wheels mounted on said shaft, a driven shaft rotatably carried by said frame and provided with a flat faced bearing surface on its upper end, and resilient means carried by and acting upon said bearings for holding the drive wheels in yieldable contact with said bearing surface.

5. A device of the class described comprising a supporting frame, a shaft journaled therein, a friction wheel on said shaft, a second shaft disposed substantially at right angles to the first mentioned shaft and rotatably mounted in said frame, a pair of spaced friction drive wheels on the second shaft adapted to alternately engage the first mentioned friction wheel upon continuous rotation of the second shaft, each wheel of said pair comprising a pair of annular metallic plates, a disk of different material from said plates disposed between the same, and means for holding said plates and disk rigidly together, each of said disks having a contact surface projecting beyond the perforations of the annular plates, the contact surface of one of said disks being longer than that of the other, whereby to cause the first mentioned shaft to be rotated a greater amount in one direction than in the other, and means on the first mentioned shaft for engaging an article to be operated upon.

6. A device of the class described comprising a supporting frame, a shaft journaled therein, a drive wheel on the shaft, a pair of spaced bearings slidable in said frames, a second shaft rotatably mounted in said bearings, a pair of spaced cooperating drive wheels on the second shaft, said wheels and the shaft being movable toward and away from the first mentioned wheel with the shaft for engaging an article to be operated upon. V

7 In a device of the class described, a supporting frame comprising a pair of plates rigidly held in s aced relation, a shaft journaled in one of said plates, a pair of spaced bearings having rods extending from opposite sides thereof and slidable in said plates, a shaft journaled in said bearings, cooperating drive wheels on said shafts, a spring on one rod of each of the bearings to hold the drive wheels in engagement with each other, means for rotating the last named shaft, and means carried by the first mentioned shaft for engaging an article to be operated upon.

8. In a device of the class described, a frame comprising a pair of plates rigidly held in spaced relation, a shaft journaled in one of said plates, a pair of rods slidable in alined openings in said plates, the intermediate portions of said rods being enlarged and provided with bearing openings, an expansion coiled spring surrounding each rod, the opposite ends of each spring engaging one of said enlarged portions and one of the plates respectively, a stop on one end of each rod to limit the action of the spring thereon, a shaft rotatably mounted in the bearings formed in the enlarged portions of said rods, cooperating ClliVe), wheels on said shafts, said wheels being held in engagement by said springs, means for rotating the last mentioned shaft, and means on the first mentioned shaft for engaging an article to be operated upon.

9. In a device of the-class described, a supporting frame comprising a pair of spaced apart plates, tie rods connecting said plates and holding the same in spaced relation. a pair of bearings slidable between said plates, a sleeve formed on one of said plates, a shaft rotatably mounted in said sleeve, a second shaft journaled in said slidable bearings, cooperating drive wheels on said shafts, springs engaging said bearings to cause said drive wheels to be retained in engagement with each other, means for rotating the last mentioned shaft, and means on the first mentioned shaft for engaging an article to be operated upon.

10. A device of the class described comprising a frame, a shaft iournaled therein, a second shaft also rotatably mounted in the frame, a connection between said shafts, means for rotating the last mentioned shaft, and means on the first mentioned shaft for engaging an article to be operated upon, said means comprising a shaft section having 'naled Within I said supporting frame, an -ada sb'cket'thereinya second shafts'ection slid- In testimony whereof Thaw 'hereuntoset able in said socket, a universal joint 'conmy handin the presence of two subscribing 10 necting'the first rnentionecishaft seetion 'and Witnesses. the end of the first mentioned shaft 10ur- FLOYD L THOMAS just'able collar on the second shaft, section, Witnesses:

and means carried by the first shaft section E. H. EFAIRBURN,

for engaging said collar. L. A. 'VVO'OD.

Copiesmfthis patent may be obtained for five cents eaeh, byaddressing the Commissioner of Eaten'ts, Washington, 'D.- $2. 

